Question
When Uranium 238 decays, it emits 8 alpha particles and 6 beta particles before finally becoming the stable daughter product; What is the atomic number and mass number of the daughter product? Show your work.
Answers
each α-particle is composed of two protons and two neutrons
... a helium nucleus
a beta particle is an electron from the decay of a neutron
... this results in a proton and the beta electron
32 nucleons are emitted ... 16 protons and 16 neutrons
6 of the remaining neutrons decay into protons
... a helium nucleus
a beta particle is an electron from the decay of a neutron
... this results in a proton and the beta electron
32 nucleons are emitted ... 16 protons and 16 neutrons
6 of the remaining neutrons decay into protons
92U238 ==> 2He4 + 90X234
90X234 ==> 2He4 + 88Y230
88Y230 ==> 2He4 + 86Z226
etc. Subtract 2 for atomic number and 4 for mass number.
For beta particle, you increase atomic number by 1 and leave mass number the same. Follow the series down the chain until you get to the end with 8 alpha and 6 beta emissions.
OR you can do it this way.
For alpha. 8 x -2 protons = -16 protons
................8 x -2 neutrons = -16 neutrons or -32 for mass number.
For beta. 6 x +1 proton = 6 protons.
So 92U238
238-32 = 206 for mass number.
92 -16 + 6 = 82 for the atomic number and you're left with 82X206. What's X? Look on the periodic chart and find atomic number of 82 is Pb so the chain ends at 82Pb206
90X234 ==> 2He4 + 88Y230
88Y230 ==> 2He4 + 86Z226
etc. Subtract 2 for atomic number and 4 for mass number.
For beta particle, you increase atomic number by 1 and leave mass number the same. Follow the series down the chain until you get to the end with 8 alpha and 6 beta emissions.
OR you can do it this way.
For alpha. 8 x -2 protons = -16 protons
................8 x -2 neutrons = -16 neutrons or -32 for mass number.
For beta. 6 x +1 proton = 6 protons.
So 92U238
238-32 = 206 for mass number.
92 -16 + 6 = 82 for the atomic number and you're left with 82X206. What's X? Look on the periodic chart and find atomic number of 82 is Pb so the chain ends at 82Pb206
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